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ASHBURN, Va. — Dan Quinn didn’t intend for his remarks to be significant, but his offhand reflection Tuesday afternoon was telling.
Washington’s head coach was busy breaking down the New York Giants and their new coach, John Harbaugh. Most of his comments were routine, the typical jargon before a divisional game. But, at the end, Quinn went off script.
“You can feel John’s identity,” Quinn said. “In terms of a team that [wins] time of possession and a run game that they stay committed to.”
Quinn kept talking.
But we will stay there.
Because, after just 10 months, Harbaugh has established an identity for his franchise. And Quinn, now three years into the gig and 2-5-1 this season, is still searching for one.
It might explain a lot.
It could be the reason the Giants have turned around their fortunes and lead the NFC East. And it could equally explain why Quinn finds himself on the brink of another lost season and maybe the end of his tenure in D.C.
Washington is eight weeks into the season, and Quinn is still searching for a complete game. His quarterback, Jayden Daniels, admitted the offense is a work in progress. And this team is searching for something it does well consistently.
“You want to hit it rolling from day one, and that’s just not what the reality is right now,” Daniels said. " We [have] dealt with a lot of things, but we also are playing the cards that we’re dealt.”
Now Washington is nearly out of hands at the proverbial poker table.
Daniels, along with the rest of the team, is calling the Giants game a must win. If the Commanders lose, they will be four games back in the playoff race with eight games remaining — effectively ending the season.
Here are three things to watch with Washington’s year on the line.
A change at center
Washington spent the offseason assuring people the center position was locked down. After cutting starter Tyler Biadasz, the Commanders didn’t sign a replacement. Instead, they selected Nick Allegretti to fill in at a position he hadn’t played in the NFL.
That plan failed nearly as soon as it began. Allegretti was benched quickly and didn’t even see the field last week when his replacement was hurt. Washington opted to put sixth-round rookie Matt Gulbin in ahead of him.
But, now that Washington is desperate, it has reinstated Allegretti at center this week — hoping he can fix the offensive line issues.
It isn’t a great time for all the change. New York brought pressure over 60% of the time in its last game against the Commanders.
A run game increase
Last week, offensive coordinator David Blough tried to manufacture a run game with screen passes and short throws. They worked as an extension of a traditional rushing attack.
But Blough knows, for his play-action scheme to really work, Washington needs to run between the tackles.
It just hasn’t come yet.
Quinn said the Commanders spent a significant amount of time this week brainstorming ways to get more production out of their running backs. They averaged fewer than 3.5 yards per carry a week ago.
“By becoming more effective on third down, I think that leans into more cracks, more at-bats, more shots at [running the ball],” Quinn said. “That’s for sure one of the topics that we spend a lot of time on. How do we extend drives? How can we get more shots at it to get our run game going? That alone will add more volume into it.”
Washington has been second worst in the NFL at third-down conversions. Last week it was were 3-of-12.
A new quarterback
The Giants have made a change at quarterback since the last time these two teams played. J.J. McCarthy is in; Jameis Winston is out.
Does that change the offense?
Quinn doesn’t think so. The same concepts are there, including force-feeding wide receiver Malik Nabers. He torched Washington the last time out, with 121 yards on 11 catches.
The only difference might be McCarthy’s ability to run, adding a mobile quarterback for Washington to account for.
“From college to the Minnesota [Vikings], the ability to use his legs to create and be aggressive. That’s definitely one of [McCarthy’s] strengths,” Quinn said. “You feel how hard he can rip outbreaking throws and deep throws. That’s also showing up on some of the downfield attempts. So definitely part of the game plan, for sure.”
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